Killing Player Characters in 5e D&D | Homebrew Everything |Dungeon Master Tips

[@FriendlyDuergar-by7jm]

I really like the idea of using exhaustion the way you're suggesting. Feels realistic without getting complicated. Also, you can also up the stakes with clever enemies. From Matt Colville, "The earth elemental stomps on your head, to make sure you're dead." (I think I have that right). 5e RAW, that's two quick death save fails and the urgency ratchets up pretty quickly. Usually in my games if there is a smart enemy, as soon as a healer identifies themselves, said healer is the target.

[@TBLReady]

That’s true. Target the healer and revivify isn’t an option any longer. I really need to make my enemies smarter. My party likes going after enemies who are beasts in nature. Might have to throw a guardian Naga at them or something. They’ll think it’s a giant dumb snake and then boom

[@bradutterstrom4105]

My death save house rule…characters get a SINGLE death save. You don’t make the roll immediately upon dropping to 0 hp, but rather after 1 full turn. So if you get dropped on the ogre’s turn, you make the death save when it’s that ogre’s turn again. This gives one entire round for your party to try to save you. Optional, add con bonus to that death save. I’ve been using this and other old school house rules In a solo game with a full party playing keep on the borderlands, and have had 3 deaths so far in a party of 6. We’ve replaced them with hired npcs from the town.

[@TBLReady]

Nice! That’s intense. It definitely pushes that sense of urgency! I mean in reality you’d normally want to save a comrade before they have the chance of dying. I like that they get the whole round too. That makes it more fair

[@superawesomegoku6512]

Wooo! So happy to see your growth and change with production quality!

[@TBLReady]

I will say I had a little help on this one.

[@McKnightlight]

I haven't homebrewed any rules around death but it is always nice to see where people think 5e is lacking. I think the big swing in action economy makes the rest of the fight really interesting once someone dies. There is this real threat of a tpk that weighs on the surviving members of the party and my players know I'm not going to start pulling punches.

[@TBLReady]

That’s awesome. I got my party close to one against their last BBEG killed two players. And when that happens I usually let them take over a severely underpowered NPC just so they aren’t sitting there (since 5e combat takes forever). It’s meant to be basically useless outside of giving Allie’s advantage or doing the skill checks the rest of the party can’t because they are fighting. Welp one of the NPCs got the killing blow on the BBEG and the party lost it. They thought it was hilarious and have been cheesing me about it since.

[@johntheherbalistg8756]

In my games, resurrection costs more than just gold. Sometimes, they need a rare mcguffin to compete the spell (material components are b*tch, yo) that nobody has laying around on a store shelf. Sometimes, the spell doesn't just return the soul, but opens a portal to where it is and somebody(s) has to go fetch their soul, keeping in mind that the planes need those souls and certain powers might not be thrilled to have their shiny new soul taken back to the material plane. It boils down to resurrection is a mini quest, with a chance of failure. I much prefer going and getting a soul, since the ded character can take part in their own resurrection quest

[@TBLReady]

I like that a lot! It then makes the world make more sense. Like why ppl die at all if they have money. The soul is contested for

[@bradutterstrom4105]

Also, huge ufc mma fan here too! Been watching obsessively since ufc 7. I’ve made dice and pc simulator type games for fights

[@TBLReady]

Yo I love it! Who’s on your Mt.Rushmore of mma?

[@fxbeliever123]

Thumbnail looks like Kyrie Irving

[@TBLReady]

Bro! I was not expecting that comment. That literally made me spit water haha you’re not wrong.